SPANISH CITIZEN BLACKMAILING NIGERIA'S GOVERNMENT

By: Uchendu Precious Onuoha (Special correspondent, Spain)

SPANISH CITIZEN BLACKMAILING NIGERIA’S GOVERNMENT

According to the law of nations; each nation is a mistress of her own actions, when they do not affect the perfect right of others. Therefore, it is quite wrong for a Spanish citizen or a Spanish of Nigerian extract, for any reason to insult the Nigerian Embassy, her Ambassador and the Nigerian government through misleading, provocative and ridiculous statements aimed at inciting Nigerians to chaos, stirring up ethnic strife among Nigerians, tarnishing the image of Nigeria and bringing the good works of the Nigerian Ambassador to disrepute. And above all, putting Spain on a diplomatic collision course with Nigeria.

“Let them that live in a glass house don’t throw stone”.

Somebody who decided to renounce Nigerian nationality and take up Spanish citizenship should not turn back to start insulting, blackmailing and painting Nigeria black outside the ambit of the bilateral laws because he/she has become Spanish. This attitude could lead to Spain making it more difficult to grant citizenship to Nigerians subsequently, if that is meant to breach her good relationship with Nigeria, as it appears that those that hold Spanish citizenship are quite ignorant of Spanish rules, laws, and their limitations to Nigeria – the country they have renounced. “You cannot eat your cake and have it”.

I am a proud Nigerian citizen and I have confidence in Nigeria. I pledged to Nigeria, my country to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all my strength, to defend her unity and uphold Her honor and glory wherever I may be. And I will not remain passive or turn blind eyes when the image of my own country is being smeared by a citizen of another country. “If a man comes into my hut and defecates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. (Chinua Achebe). And by virtue of my profession as a journalist, I am a societal watchdog, it lays on me the onus to inform and educate the public on some salient issues.

“Is it ignorance that makes the rat attack the cat”?

The recent publication in the social media by a Nigerian born Spanish citizen, insulting and painting the name of Nigeria black by raining abuses, corrupt allegations against the Nigerian government, and the worst, against the Ambassador who has done exceptionally great works in Spain to earn the prestigious award as African most outstanding Ambassador in Europe. And for a Spanish citizen to attempt to drag her name to the mud is a total affront, and insult to all Nigerians in Spain and the Nigerian government.

Before I proceed, I have to cite one of the malicious articles the Spanish lady posted on the social media on May 3, 2015, insulting the Nigerian government and the Ambassador. And for those who may be deceived to think that she is doing this for the interest of Nigerians, no it’s not for her love for Nigeria, because if you love Nigeria, you will not renounce it for another country, but because her selfish demands could not be granted by the Nigerian Embassy in Spain.

The Spanish lady who has been posting several articles in the social media blackmailing the Nigerian government and the Ambassador.

In one of her malicious postings, she alleged that the Ambassador was in a 4 day visit to Málaga, a city in Spain preparing ID Cards for Nigerians there to vote, a misleading and erroneous information, when everybody knows that elections in Nigeria has been concluded. She alleged that Nigerian Embassy is ethnic and corrupt, malicious statements aimed at inciting ethnic strife and tarnishing to the image of Nigerian government. Her malicious articles and extortive demand letters to the Embassy would be cited in due course.

In respect to the above, it is important that all Nigerians in Spain and beyond should know the truth about this matter as not to be misled into believing falsehoods.  In the cause of reactions by some concerned Nigerians to the ill-conceived and malicious articles the Spanish citizen who seem to be on rampage has unleashed on the Ambassador and Nigerian government, the attention of the Nigerian embassy was drawn. And from information gathered from the Embassy source, the lady who is identified as gunning for a public position in Spain presently, went to the Nigerian Embassy in Spain demanding for huge sums of fund that runs into thousands of euros from the Embassy and a staff, to finance her campaign bid. The Embassy declined her demand by letting her know that the Embassy is not authorized to finance election campaigns in Spain, Nigeria or anywhere in the world, as it is against international diplomatic regulations. Owing to the decline, she went on rampage and resorted to a campaign of calumny through the social media to blackmail, label corruption, falsehood and malice aimed at discrediting the Ambassador and the government of Nigeria.

“He that knows, and knows not that he knows is asleep. Wake him”. (Arabic proverb)

May I wake her up and others who may not know the implications and limits of what Spanish citizenship implies? Spain does not grant dual citizenship to Nigerians. She needs visa to enter Nigeria. By virtue of her status as a Spanish citizen, she is not a Nigerian anymore and cannot act as the mouthpiece of Nigerians, a country she has renounced her citizenship for Spain. It’s like a dog eating her own vomit. Doing that is to deceive her conscience. Her actions amount to a serious breach of diplomatic protocol by attempting to spy on the activities of another nation and trying to extort money from a foreign mission to finance her political campaign, an act which is fraudulent and contrary to Spanish regulations.

“He that knows not, and knows that he knows not is a pupil. Teach him”.

Nigerians in Spain, it is diplomatically wrong for Spanish citizens to champion your cause. It is wrong for those that hold Spanish nationality to be leaders of Nigerian associations. I have to mention that because “If an idol becomes too troublesome, it will be shown the tree from which it was carved”.

I am a Nigerian citizen, and I feel insulted by the Spanish citizen’s actions, because I value the integrity of Nigeria. And as Nigerians, we have not surrendered our sovereignty to Spain or her citizen to champion our cause. Nigeria is for Nigerians. She abated crime by giving bribe, and today she has the audacity to expose herself and actions through misguided utterances. It is the behaviour of one that knows full well that she is breaking the law. This venom targeted at Nigerian mission, government and the Ambassador is as a result of frustration that her selfish interest which amounts to extortion and fraud was not granted. Spain, please answer me, “When crocodiles eat their own eggs, what will they not do to the flesh of a frog?”

Therefore it is extremely irresponsible for a non-Nigerian citizen who should spend more time seeking relevance as a Spanish, and concentrate on her cause, rather than meddling into Nigeria’s affairs by insulting a country that she has renounced. The latest diplomatic spat by the Spanish lady is not only unnecessary but extremely unhealthy and dangerous to Nigeria and its good relationship with Spain. Whatever her intention may be that warranted her perceived fury and salacious articles insulting the Nigerian government, followed by very harsh personal attack against the Ambassador and a cross section of the Nigerian people in Spain is undeserving and should be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians and Spanish government.

By her actions, it seems she wants to rock the boat of the strong and good relationship Spain has for a long time cultivated with Nigeria for the sole purpose of satisfying her selfish ego by insinuating and fanning the embers of xenophobia against Nigerians in Spain. The damage the publication may cause to Spain’s relationship with Nigeria, not to mention the deeply personal insults targeted at the Nigerian Ambassador are humiliations to Nigeria.

“He that knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool. Shun him”

Her actions clearly acknowledges that she has prepared herself to become discredited, isolated, pariah, and persona non grata to well-meaning  Nigerians. And I call on the Nigerian Embassy in Spain not to hesitate to report her nefarious activities to the appropriate authorities in Spain. Also, I appeal to Spain to call her citizen, who may be unaware that she is dwelling in “ignorance is bliss” state, to order and tender an unreserved apology to the Nigerian government as to forestall any diplomatic row this reckless behaviour may cause.